The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-05-06

we suspected was false. 1t was false;
it led us to the palace of cardinal.
But strange to say. not five minutes
walk from the great house. we STUN.
bled upon our little friend. pale and
languid, sitting in patch of sunshine,
with his curly head leaning against the
crumbling wall.
He smiled brightly at sight of us.
and, after some hesitation, took us to
his miserable home. His mother was
a wan little woman, who sewed unceas-
ingly all the time we were there, while
Lii. the baby, played amid the squalor
and dirt, like pure little flower bloom
ing on a dust heap. Every day we
went to see Filippo. my aunt's interest
in him constantly increasing. She
took him dainties. and bought him
clothes and shoes. believe she con-
templated taking him back to Yer
mont with us, for she asked his mother
if she would give him away. He would
look in her face with his big. beautiful
eyes, and kiss her hard hands and
leathery cheeks with II fondness and
devotion that would have made an inn
preston on a much colder heart than
my Aunt Bctsey's. began to look on
him with disfavor, but dared not say a
word.
When we went to Tivoli. or took
other long excursions. tn, little invalid
was invariably invited to accompany
us and occupy the third seat in our car
riage. 1t was queer. swinging affair
in Roman cabs. and decidedly uncOm-
Portable. As soon as we were outside
the walls, Twas invariably requested by
my aunt To change seats with FilippO
SO that he might lean back costly, and
have ali the benefit possible from the
fresh air. confess that felt decided
ly ill-natured over this state of affairs.
One day my aunt planned an excur-
sion to St. Pauls-a beautiful church
on the dreaded Campagna; We were to
take in the Protestant cemetery and
some other sights by the way. So Il car
riage was engaged and Filippo was in
vited. Having been notified the day
before, he met us at our own door, and
handed us in with grand air that
seemed natural to him.
As we drove through the Piazza
COlonna. we stopped for letters at the
post-office. There were three: one from
mOthcr-hOw strangely dear she seemed
in that far distant home of mine! and
two for Aunt Betsey. As she opened
the first. French bank-nOte for a
thousand francs fluttcred out and fell to
the ground; Filippo jumped out quickly,
and picked it up.
"What Il pretty blue paperr' he said.
innocently, as Aunt Bctsey snapped it
carelessly into the leather money-bag
which she wore attached to her belt,
ae,Hz fashion of a time.
Yes, said, hooking his ignorance.
''that is an invitation to the Queen S
Reception. Aunt Betsey is having a
white satin dress made for it,
Dior he exclaimed. as soon as he
fathomed my meaning, for my Italian
was vile beyond belief; my lady knows
the Queen?"
''Oh yes; they call each other Betsey
and Margherita when they meet.
Those blue papers,
Lily Ann!' said my aunt. sharply;
while Filippo looked at me with pa
theti', puzzled expression. as if quite
unable to reconcile our very ordinary
style of living and dress with the pos
session of such grand acquaintances.
Before we had driven dozen yards,
we caught sight of Filippo's step-father
leaning gracefully against one of the
columns forming the portal of the
Doria Palace, and leisurely smoking a
cigarette.
Filippo laid one of his little brown
hands on my aunt's shabby glove, and
said, in that sweet voice which always
went straight to her heart: '.Will the
signora allow me to speak a moment to
that viper? Mama mao was asleep
when crept out, and he must tell her
that will be gone all day with the
English lady. and not be back until
after sunset"
BY this time we had left the indOlent
scrittore behind us, but Filippo ran
back and we watched him give his
message, talking with hands. arms,
shoulders and eyes, as his lively race
are apt to do.
Il hope he II make him understand
some time today said Aunt Betsey,
impatiently; but when he came run
ing back, his sunny smile disarmed hel
wrath, and she put out her hand to
help him in; quite unnecessarily, fol
Filippo could no longer be called an
! invalid. remember rejoicing when
he insisted on keeping that uninvitine
little third seat, declaring himself to
be quite well again.
At length, We came in sight of the
Pyramid where the unknown Ccsto il
buried; and of the grass-grown noun
tain of broken pottery-the jars in
which the whole world once sent trib.
ute to Rome; and of the poplars and
stone-pines which shade the little bury.
ing-ground where strangers lie. As we
walked under the sunny sky of Italy,
which was to us an ever-new wonder,
a delightful sense of peace crept { Gel
| us.
I gathered, with Filippo's help, a
bunch of white violets from the grave
! of Keats, and copied for Aunt Betsey
the pathetic inscription above hi, last
home. Little as l knew of his life
and knew less of his poctry-I could